The nurse asks a hospitalized patient to sign the operative permit as directed in the health care provider's preoperative orders. The patient tells the nurse, "I do not really understand what is involved in the surgery." The nurse should

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The health care provider is responsible for explaining the surgery to the patient, and the nurse should wait until the health care provider has clarified the surgery before having the patient sign the consent form. The nurse should communicate directly with the health care provider about the consent form rather than ask the holding room staff to talk to the health care provider. It is not within the nurse's legal scope of practice to explain the surgical procedure.

The Nurse Asks a Hospitalized Patient to Sign the Operative